Device for connecting to each other three flat elements

ABSTRACT

A device for connecting together flat elements that are lying in a plane with at least one edge of a first of the flat elements adjacent at least one edge of each of second and third flat elements. The device is connected to the first flat element and comprises at least two hook-shaped organs, a first of which cooperates with a first contact on the second flat element and a second of which cooperates with a second contact on the third flat element. Each of the first and second hook-shaped organs is movable between a first position in which the flat elements are released from each other, and a second position in which the first and second hook-shaped organs engage the first and second contacts to cause edges of the first flat element to be pressed against edges of the second and third flat elements.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for connecting eachother three flat elements, lying on one single plane and connecting eachwith at least one edge against at least one edge of each of two otherelements.

[0002] Connecting each other flat elements is a problem occurringregularly in practice and so-called parquet floorings are one knownexample.

[0003] Usually, parquet floorings are secured through nails or glues toan underfloor and consequently ensure the adhesion between the variouselements. This is generally a permanent link between the parquetflooring and the underfloor which can only be undone when damaged.

[0004] In practice, it is often desired to fit such parquet floors insuch a way that they can be simply dismantled and fitted again inanother place. This is particularly important when moving.

[0005] Moreover, it may also be required to discard some parts of theparquet flooring and to replace them with new elements, for example,when some parts are damaged or are extremely worn.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide adevice of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph, making itpossible not only to connect each other flat elements in a simple way,but making it also possible to disassemble the resulting connectioneasily and with no damage.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention in that thedevice is connected with a first flat element and is provided with atleast two hook-shaped organs, wherein one hook-shaped organ cooperateswith a snap-on contact connected with the second flat element and thesecond hook-shaped organ cooperates with a snap-on contact connectedwith the third flat element and wherein the hook-shaped organs aremovable between a first position, where the flat elements are releasedfrom each other, and a second position where the elements are pressedagainst each other with their common edges.

[0008] Other features and advantages of the device according to theinvention will become apparent from the following description of anembodiment referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a bottom view showing some elements of a parquetflooring provided with a device according to the invention,

[0010]FIG. 2 is side view of FIG. 1,

[0011]FIG. 3 is a top view showing a parquet flooring in a herringbonepattern with a schematic illustration of the connection, and

[0012]FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating some parquet flooring patternswhich can be fitted using the device according to the invention.

[0013] In FIG. 1, part of a parquet flooring is illustrated as a bottomview, where the parquet flooring parts are assembled with each other bymeans of a device according to the invention. As usual with parquetfloorings, it comprises a number of rectangular parquet pieces 1 which,in the illustrated embodiment, are connected with each other as aherringbone structure. In the illustrated embodiment, respectively threeparquet pieces 1 are already assembled into a parquet part 3, so thatrespectively such parquet parts 3 make up a whole and are able to beused and fitted as such. The assembly and the mutual connection of thethree parquet pieces 1 into a parquet part 3 are done by means of aconnecting element 4 which is secured against the bottom part of thethree parquet pieces 1 and thereby hold them together. This securingoperation can be done with glue, screws, nails, staples or any othermeans, and can be performed at the industrial scale using theappropriate devices so that a uniform product is produced in the form ofparquet parts 3.

[0014] The connecting element 4 comprises a plate-shaped part 5 whichcan extend over nearly the entire surface of the three parquet pieces 1to be connected together, having thereby a uniform shape. Thisplate-shaped part 5 is preferably somewhat smaller than a parquet part 3so that it does not hinder assembling two parquet parts 3. In FIG. 1,the plate-shaped element 5 is partially not shown.

[0015] Between the plate-shaped part 5 and the parquet pieces 1, islocated a number of spacers arranged so as to create a flat space wherethe parquet part 3 connecting mechanism can be received.

[0016] The spacers comprise a first stairs-shaped spacer 10 that followsa stairs-shaped edge of the parquet part 3 and thereby projects somewhatfrom this edge and a second stairs-shaped spacer 11 that follows theother stairs-shaped edge of the parquet part 3 and thereby lies somewhatinwardly relative to this edge.

[0017] This projection, respectively inwardly localisation results, uponfitting, in some overlap between neighbouring parquet parts 3, so thatthe level remains the same.

[0018] The spacers additionally comprise two straight elements 15 and16, that project along one of the straight edges of the parquet part 3.

[0019] The element 15 consequently has a beveled edge 17 and the element16 has a trapezoid recess 18. Along the other straight edge of theparquet part 3, a spacer 20 is arranged forming two side openings 21 and22, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

[0020] The whole plate-shaped part 5 and spacers 10, 11, 15, 16 and 20are shaped in such a way that the spacers can be selectively arrangedaccording to the structure shown in FIG. 1 or as a mirror image thereof.

[0021] In the space formed by the parquet pieces 1, the plate-shapedplate 5 and the spacers 10, 11, 15, 16 and 20, a connecting mechanism 25is arranged, by means of which two parquet parts 3 arranged one againstanother 3 be connected together.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting mechanism is madewith a knee-shaped lever 26 which is able to rotate about a pivot 7being arranged between the parquet part 3 and the plate-shaped part 5.An arm 27 is provided at its free end with a hook 28 projecting throughthe opening 21 and is connected, by means of a hinge 29, with the lever.A second arm 30 is provided at its free end with a hook 31 projectingthrough the opening 22 and is connected, by means of a hinge 32, withthe lever 26. The hinges 29 and 32 are built in the illustratedembodiment as so-called film hinges, which kinetically move with the arm26.

[0023] The lever 26 is in principle movable between the spacers 16 and35 and partially projects out of the parquet part surface 3.

[0024] A draw-spring 36 is arranged between a spacer 37 and the lever 26and draws the lever 26 in the direction of a spacer 35. Against theparquet part 3, but at some distance from the plate-shaped part 5, anstrip 38 is provided, which together with the spacer 16 forms a space 39in which the lever 26 can be attached in a position. In this respect,the strip 38 can be provided with an oblique side for receiving thelever 26.

[0025] The operation of the device according to the invention is asfollows:

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 3, these parquet parts A, B and C areplaced one against another, in such a way that the parquet part B formsan extension of the parquet part A at one side of the herringbonepattern. Both parquet parts A and B are therefore identical. A thirdparquet part C forms the other half of the herringbone pattern and isidentical by nature to parquet parts A and B in that the spacers areplaced in a mirror image way relative to the spacers in parquet parts Aand B.

[0027] The lever 26 belonging to the parquet part A lies in a firstposition, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1. It is hold therein bythe oblique edge of the element 38, in spite of the force of the spring36.

[0028] After the three parquet parts A, B and C are arranged asindicated in FIG. 1, the lever 26 is operated by a pressure exerted onthe projecting part of lever 26, thereafter the spring 36 moves thelever 26 towards a second position, illustrated in a plain line inFIG. 1. Thereby the arms 27 and 30 are moved as well, and depending onthe way both arms 27 and 30 are connected with the arm 26, the hook 28is engaged on the tilted surface of the trapezoid recess 18 of theparquet part C and the hook 31 on the beveled edge 17 of the parquetpart B. Thereby, the parquet part C is pressed in the direction ofparquet parts A and B and the parquet part B in the direction of parquetparts A and C. Thereby, a strong connection is created with sufficientside compression between the parquet parts A, B and C. The sidecompression between A, B and C remains because of the spring force, evenif the parquet should shrink or expand in the course of time. Thecompression between parts B and C is the direct consequence of the levermechanism kinematics consisting of the lever 26 and the arms 27 and 30.The compression between parts A and B, respectively parts A and C, is onthe one hand the consequence of the lever mechanism kinematics, but onthe other hand, it can be still enhanced by the slides in the hooks 28,31 and the slides of the spacers 18 and 15, creating thereby anadditional compression.

[0029] It is obviously possible, upon fitting the parquet parts, tomaintain the lever 26 manually and when the three parts A, B and C areaccurately positioned relative to each other, the lever 26 can be lockedmanually in the second position mecanically.

[0030] However, spring 36 is preferably used, so that the mutualcompression of A, B and C should be constant.

[0031] Different other parquet part configurations are illustrated inFIG. 4, which can be arranged by means of the connecting elementaccording to the invention. Thereby, depending on the selected pattern,use can be made of identically arranged connecting elements or ofconnecting elements arranged in a mirror image way.

1. A device for connecting each other three flat elements, lying on onesingle plane and connecting each with at least one edge against at leastone edge of each of two other elements, characterized in that the deviceis connected with a first flat element and is provided with at least twohook-shaped organs, wherein one hook-shaped organ cooperates with asnap-on contact connected with the second flat element and the secondhook-shaped organ cooperates with a snap-on contact connected with thethird flat element and thereby the hook-shaped organs are movablebetween a first position, where the flat elements are released from eachother, and a second position where the elements are pressed against eachother with their common edges.
 2. A device according to claim 1,characterized in that each hook-shaped organ comprises an arm, which isrotatively connected with a lever in the first flat element, whereby,upon moving from the first to the second position, the hook-shaped organmoves both in the direction of the contact edge with the second as wellas with the third element.
 3. A device according to claim 2,characterized in that the lever arms are coupled with eachkinematically.
 4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe first arm is connected by means of a floating pivot with a lever andin that the second arm is connected by means of a floating pivot withthe lever being rotatively connected with the first flat element.
 5. Adevice according to claim 4, characterized in that the lever is providedwith a control arm which can be located in the first position of thehook-shaped organs and is pre-tensioned, by means of a spring, in adirection so that the hook-shaped organs move to the second position. 6.A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the springmaintains the coupled elements under pressure upon shrinking orexpanding the elements.
 7. A device according to one of claims 2 to 6,characterized in that each hook-shaped organ comprises a flat part whichis able to cooperate with an oblique edge of the snap-on contact.